Who to start · 2025-26
Cutter Gauthier vs Nikita Kucherov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Cutter Gauthier's 2.18.
Gauthier had 69 points in 76 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Gauthier has 1 game left; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Gauthier's 1.7.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Gauthier's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 102, Ascension score 63, Top skating speed 23.1.
Kucherov's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1046, Plus/minus +43, Sequence xG 57.2%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cutter Gauthier
2.18
fantasy points per game
Nikita Kucherov
3.01
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Gauthier | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.01 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.41 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.38 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.21 |
Per-game rates from the selected sample; blended mixes last season with this season, weighting this season more as games are played. Categories are scored as z-scores against qualified players at the same position. Your custom weights are saved in this browser only.
Head-to-head: Gauthier vs Kucherov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Gauthier 0G 1A, 14 SOG · Kucherov 1G 6A, 15 SOG
On the ice against each other (Gauthier's side)
5:38 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Gauthier's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–5
- 68.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.5
- 31.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Gauthier | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-31 | ANA 3–4 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-10-25 | ANA 3–4 TBL | 0G 1A 7S | 0G 2A 6S |
| 2025-01-16 | ANA 3–4 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2025-01-05 | ANA 4–1 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
Every stat, side by side
Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.
Fantasy box score
Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Sep 28 to Oct 4. More games usually wins a weekly start/sit. Chips show how many fantasy points the opponent allows to the player's position (soft or tough), the Schedule Edge from rest and travel, and the likely opposing goalie with his save percentage. Projections use ESPN default points for the games left.
Cutter Gauthier
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ VGKOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs FLA1.7 ptsOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.8 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Cutter Gauthier or Nikita Kucherov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Cutter Gauthier's 2.18. Gauthier had 69 points in 76 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
- Who is better, Cutter Gauthier or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 23 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Gauthier and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Gauthier's team went 1–3. Gauthier had 1 points (0 goals) and Kucherov had 7 (1 goals).
2025-26 regular season from NHL play-by-play, shift charts and NHL EDGE, processed by Edgehalla. Head-to-head covers every loaded season (play-by-play from 2019-20; on-ice matchups from 2025-26).Compare other players →